[missionhill]

Originally Posted by macalan

Ha ha. Stalking me are you?

I remembered that earlier conversation about snakes, Newburyport... You were going to visit the various possibilities in RI and Conn that year. Nothing came of it?

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by macalan

Thx for the info. Not a fan of Myrtle Beach.

Of course, anytime. All the best next year. Maybe the market will turn with more inventory

[JayCT]

I think it would help if we knew what you expected to get for your budget. That might help us help you find a town. Milford certainly hits all your boxes but has a population larger than 50,000. Plus your budget buys a more modest home than other places.

To me the shoreline east of New Haven is wonderful. The town’s of Branford, Guilford and Madison have a friendly small town feel. It’s quiet, safe and beautiful and has sort of a beach vibe you might like. There is not a local hospital there but there are medical facilities available. I will say though shopping is a bit sparse since there are no major shopping malls in the area. There are however two great outlet centers nearby in Clinton and Westbrook. Madison has a stunning waterfront park and beach, the Surf Club, and one of the best independent book stores in the state, if not New England, RJ Julia Bookstore.

Another town you might like is Middletown. It has a wonderful walkable downtown with lots of great stores and restaurants. It even has a branch of Madison’s RJ Julia Bookstore. It’s the home of Wesleyan University so there’s a lot to do in town and it has a small hospital associated with the Mayo Clinic. Middletown is conveniently located almost in the exact center of the state so you can get to not only Hartford and New Haven but also Waterbury, Fairfield County and the Shore. It does not have a train but New Haven is not far forbtrips to Boston and New York.

I did have a thought about West Hartford. I know taxes are high there but most people there do not care, including my soon to be former neighbor who is moving there despite the taxes. That said maybe you should consider neighboring Farmington which gives you access to the amenities of West Hartford but taxes are MUCH lower. Jay

[CTartist]

Originally Posted by JayCT

I think it would help if we knew what you expected to get for your budget. That might help us help you find a town. Milford certainly hits all your boxes but has a population larger than 50,000. Plus your budget buys a more modest home than other places.

It's in there. This was in the OP's first post.......

"We want something small (1,500 sf or under) - preferably something on one floor. We'd consider a condo as long as the regime/HOA wasn't astronomical. We'd prefer a newish build, but am not sure that's as abundant as it is in the south. We'd probably rent for a while before we buy, so a place with nice, modern apartments would be a plus."

The OP's first post was probably the most concise post I have ever seen on here.

[macalan]

Originally Posted by missionhill

I remembered that earlier conversation about snakes, Newburyport... You were going to visit the various possibilities in RI and Conn that year. Nothing came of it?

Something called COVID put a halt to our plans. Now I have cancer. So maybe next year, God willing.

[Johnho771]

No town or city will check all your boxes, but you should give Torrington a look as it checks a lot of your boxes.

Population of around 30k which seems to be the sweet spot of what you are looking for. It has some rural areas, but the heart of the city has that more dense suburban you are looking for. 500k budget would go far here. Property taxes may be higher, but assessments tend to be lower.

Many doctors, dentists, vets in area. Not an isolated community as the highway goes right through the city.

Has a nice very walkable downtown with a park, riverfront, shops, restaurants, and a great arts culture with galleries and the Warner Theater. Many sidewalks on other streets.

It has or is within a 30 min drive of the stores like Costco, Lowes, Home Depot, and While foods that you mention.

It has its own hospital. It would be a little bit of a further drive to Take, maybe closer to 50 minutes. But the tradeoff is Torrington is a lot closer to Massachusetts as you mentioned you were hoping to be, than a lot of the other places that have been suggested.

[missionhill]

Originally Posted by CTartist

Vibrant and charming
There is a lot going on in Milford like you describe. But the "charming" towns you seek in CT are frankly kind of boring and not vibrant. You kind of have to pick between vibrant and "charming".

Maybe you have to pick in Connecticut but Newburyport, Portsmouth NH, Marblehead, Salem, Plymouth, Falmouth, Newport RI are all vibrant and charming. Sure there are many charming-not-vibrant places like Litchfield, Farmington and Old Wethersfield. And vibrant but not all that charming, like Middletown and Manchester.

macalan, I wish you well. Not to be obtuse, as you're inquiring about Connecticut, but Northampton Mass is vibrant and charming (the Paradise of America said Jenny Lind, although she hadn't seen Santa Barbara or La Jolla) with beautiful scenery nearby, the five-college cultural offerings, the Cooley-Dick and Baystate hospitals close by. But your "drive to walkable downtown" criterion opens up so many possibilities beyond the much more rare and expensive place like Newburyport where you can live in a lovely, charming street within walking distance of vibrant and charming town center. Middletown, CT, may be more charming than I realize but it's affordable and has plenty going on downtown. You didn't like my New London suggestion in 2019 but between New London, Mystic, Westerly and Stonington there's an abundance of charming/vibrant walkable town centers within close driving distance of an affordable home in a safe neighborhood.

[masssachoicetts]

Simsbury!

[macalan]

Originally Posted by missionhill

Maybe you have to pick in Connecticut but Newburyport, Portsmouth NH, Marblehead, Salem, Plymouth, Falmouth, Newport RI are all vibrant and charming. Sure there are many charming-not-vibrant places like Litchfield, Farmington and Old Wethersfield. And vibrant but not all that charming, like Middletown and Manchester.

macalan, I wish you well. Not to be obtuse, as you're inquiring about Connecticut, but Northampton Mass is vibrant and charming (the Paradise of America said Jenny Lind, although she hadn't seen Santa Barbara or La Jolla) with beautiful scenery nearby, the five-college cultural offerings, the Cooley-Dick and Baystate hospitals close by. But your "drive to walkable downtown" criterion opens up so many possibilities beyond the much more rare and expensive place like Newburyport where you can live in a lovely, charming street within walking distance of vibrant and charming town center. Middletown, CT, may be more charming than I realize but it's affordable and has plenty going on downtown. You didn't like my New London suggestion in 2019 but between New London, Mystic, Westerly and Stonington there's an abundance of charming/vibrant walkable town centers within close driving distance of an affordable home in a safe neighborhood.

Thank you, yes. Spot on. I know Northampton well as we have relatives that live in Lee. I don't want to be that far from the coast though. Being far from the ocean actually gives me claustrophobia. I'm a water baby at heart.

I will check out your other recommendations.

I'd give anything to be able to walk into downtown like we easily did in Newburyport - living 1 block from town, 2 blocks from the water in spring, summer and fall was pretty much paradise. Sorry now that we sold our place and and didn't just rent it out.

One of life's many lessons...

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by missionhill

Maybe you have to pick in Connecticut but Newburyport, Portsmouth NH, Marblehead, Salem, Plymouth, Falmouth, Newport RI are all vibrant and charming. Sure there are many charming-not-vibrant places like Litchfield, Farmington and Old Wethersfield. And vibrant but not all that charming, like Middletown and Manchester.

macalan, I wish you well. Not to be obtuse, as you're inquiring about Connecticut, but Northampton Mass is vibrant and charming (the Paradise of America said Jenny Lind, although she hadn't seen Santa Barbara or La Jolla) with beautiful scenery nearby, the five-college cultural offerings, the Cooley-Dick and Baystate hospitals close by. But your "drive to walkable downtown" criterion opens up so many possibilities beyond the much more rare and expensive place like Newburyport where you can live in a lovely, charming street within walking distance of vibrant and charming town center. Middletown, CT, may be more charming than I realize but it's affordable and has plenty going on downtown. You didn't like my New London suggestion in 2019 but between New London, Mystic, Westerly and Stonington there's an abundance of charming/vibrant walkable town centers within close driving distance of an affordable home in a safe neighborhood.

Many of the places you mention as vibrant are so because they have become tourist destinations. Personally I would not want to live in any of them. They are too noisy, congested and overcrowded to be enjoyable more than a day or two. I think the OP would be better off finding a town that is charming but avoids heavy tourism. JMHO, Jay